IMPACT OF GREENING INITIATIVES BY HDB RESIDENTS ON THE LOCAL MIRCROCLIMATE

Abstract

The Singaporean government has invested a lot into greening the country over the years. Many schemes currently exist that entice developers to get buildings Green Mark certified in part of efforts to create an environmentally sustainable Singapore. Vertical greenery systems and entire floors dedicated to gardens are common solutions to achieve this certification. However, these schemes solely focus on the role that businesses have in the country’s mission against environmental sustainability.

The aim of this study is to focus on the residential aspect of greenery. In other words, the study will explore the role of the average Singaporean and their contribution to greening community spaces. The specific objectives are to (a) determine if community gardens affect the local microclimate in any way, (b) gain a deeper understanding on the current state of Singapore’s community gardens and (c) discuss and propose strategies to further improve Singapore’s community gardens. The study was conducted by gathering quantitative data with the use of Testo for climate data and through interviews to give a qualitative perspective on the state of community gardens. Both aspects were analyzed and discussed in depth in this paper.

The results suggest that community gardens have some form of influence in their surroundings up until a 5 m distance away from the garden, although it remains largely inconclusive. This is because wind speed data has shown that it has the largest influence on the temperatures that were recorded on site. Furthermore, the interviews suggest that despite the government’s efforts to establish community gardens, the community is split on the specific objectives of these gardens.